The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-07-09
BILLY'S PATCH FOR THE HOLE
In THE DRUM-HEAD.
BY REV. E. A. RAND.

What was it that Billy Earle heard
Uncle Solomon scolding?
During all his visit to Uncle Solomon,
he had not heard those sharp, ill-natured
tones before.
81 don't see why they single me out !"
exclaimed Uncle Solomon. "They ought
to be ashamed of themselves"
at is good cause" meekly remarked
Aunt Mary, who was rolling out pie-crust
on the table at the window in the kitch-
en-.
Billy ventured to plant one eye at the
crack in the door opening from the sit
ting-room into the kitchen.
sob, is that il? wondered Billy, catch
ing glimpse of paper in Uncle Solo
mons hands. Billy was little past six.
He was very proud of the fact that he
was master of very easy reading. He
had spelled out enough of the document
to know that it was about temperance.
It was headed with an invitation in big
letters: "Now is the timel Sign now!"
This appeal had been scattered in all
the homes OF Grayton by the temperance
people, who wished to awaken temper
ance sentiment, and consisted of an APP
peal to keep sober, and pledge not to
drink. 1t had been very successful in
awakening Uncle Solomon. After receiv-
ing it, he had been like anything but a
man asleep. Billy was surprised. He had
had good temperance training, and did
not Uncle Solomon think that way?
ooh, dear I" he heard Aunt Mary groan
when she was alone. Solomon knows
he has need of that pledge. 1t would
make a man of him. And there! if he
isn't agoin' to beat the big drum in the
procession, and he will get hisself SO ex-
cited, he will pound it in sure, as he did
once before I"
"What is that?" queried Billy.
He had seen Uncle Solomon's big bass
drum out in the barn-chamber What a
delightful pastime it was for Billy, the
making of ''thunderl"
He would stand there a long time,
humping the old drum-head, imagining,
on cloudy days, that he had made the
real article,such as grumbled and tumbled
in the sky; and once Billy thought it
tumbled out OF the sky, when neigh
boris barn was lightning struck.
He had made all his experiments in
the manufacture of thunder with entire
safety, and he could not see how it was
that Uncle Solomon mad ever burst in
the drum head.
"Pll-Tll foller him; see il don't"
thought Billy; land if-if Uncle Solomon
is agoin' to bust in the drum, I-I-Tll
have patch ready for him.
He knew where Aunt Mary kept the
m ucilage bottle, and thought he would
borrow that, and have it on hand, as well
as stiff piece of paper for adrum-patch.
The day came when Uncle Solomon
was to walk in the procession, and pound
away on the big drum. 1t was magnifi-
cent Fourth" in nature. The birds all
had the spirit of rs aboard, and, on
one of the brightest, sunniest OF morn
ings, m ade all the sweet noise they could. |
1t was nothing though, in volume, by
the side of the clang of the bells, the |
bang of the guns, and the crack OF count !
less tcrpedoes.
"Pl-TI-Ill-Ahem F" said Uncle |
Solomon, clearing a sudden cold out of |
his throat. an jest step acr oss-the
way"
This was said after breakfast. He had |
already stepped ''across the way" to the
back door of Pingreen's groghole; but |
that ore breakfast
at gives me good appetite" unused
Uncle Solomon at that time.
He now went because it was after
breakfast.
at braces me up" said Uncle Solomon
"tor-for the duties of the day."
"Oh, dear |" groaned Aunt Mary, and
the small but keen eyes of Billy saw her
sad face, and his small but keen ears
heard her weary sigh. at will jest ex-
cite him, and he'll get a-goin' and bust
in that drum p
Having overheard this remark, Billy
was all the more fully determined to fol-